10U and 12U Rules
***Regular baseball rules will be followed with the exception of the below MinnDak League rules.***
- Games will be 6 innings, unless game is tied. Extra innings will be played until a winner is determined UNLESS the game needs to end due to darkness or weather, at which point the game can end in a tie.
- 10U only double-header limit (2 games on same field on same night, typically a 10U followed by 12U): No new inning will be started 2 hours after beginning of game, unless game is tied. Once coaches agree at the top of an inning the game will be called due to time limit after inning completion, another inning will NOT be allowed to be played in the event the full inning goes by quickly. The game will be completed. On non double-header nights, 10U games will be played as outlined above in rule 1.
- First Game is scheduled at 6:00 p.m. The second game is TENTATIVELY scheduled for 7:45 as most 10U games are typically completed in less than an hour and 45 minutes. However, if 6 innings is not completed, the first game will continue until the “no new inning after 2 hour” limitation has passed.
- A game will be made official after 3 innings if a game must be stopped due to weather. The two coaches should have discussions about any weather delays/game stoppage, but ultimately the decision is at the discretion of the home team due to the interest of players and home team facilities.
- 10U only double-header limit (2 games on same field on same night, typically a 10U followed by 12U): No new inning will be started 2 hours after beginning of game, unless game is tied. Once coaches agree at the top of an inning the game will be called due to time limit after inning completion, another inning will NOT be allowed to be played in the event the full inning goes by quickly. The game will be completed. On non double-header nights, 10U games will be played as outlined above in rule 1.
- Must have at least 7 players to start game.
NOTE: If a team has only 8 players, no outs will be taken for the the 9th spot in the batting order. If you have 7 players, 1 out will be taken in the 8th spot of the batting order. - A player can only play on one team and be on one roster. If a team has fewer than 9 players for a game, the team can be filled with players from a lower division (Example: 8U to 10U) to get the team to 9 players. Taking a player within the same division from the same town that may have a bye that night will not be allowed. The opposing coach must be alerted to the situation for approval.
- 5-run limit per inning for the first 5 innings. No run limit in the 6th inning or extra innings. If a 10U game is agreed to be ended early due to time limit (see rule 1.1), the final inning becomes the “no run limit” inning.
- A game shall be called after 4 innings if one team has a 15 run lead.
A game shall be called after 5 innings if one team has a 10 run lead. - 10U base length will be 60 feet. 12U base length will be 65 feet, but 12U games can be played with 60-foot bases at the discretion of the home team.
- The pitching distance is 46 feet 6 inches for 10U. Pitching distance is 49 feet for 12U.
- 10U cannot run on a dropped third strike, but 12U can.
- Stealing Bases Rules:
- No leading off in either division.
- 10U will not be allowed to steal/advance on passed ball during the month of May in order to find/develop catchers. After May 31st, stealing is allowed for 10U. Stealing/advancing on passed ball is always allowed in 12U.
- 10U can steal when the ball crosses home plate, 12U can steal when the ball is released from the pitcher’s hand. If a runner is deemed to have left early by an umpire, that runner will be called out.
- A runner must be committed halfway to the next base by the time the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher to continue with the steal attempt. If a runner has not committed to at least halfway, the runner needs to return back to the base that they are currently occupying. In other words, no “dancing” between bases while the pitcher has the ball to entice a throw.
- A runner may not advance to the next base in either 10U or 12U if the ball is overthrown by the catcher to the pitcher.
- 12U Only: A runner on 3rd may advance home if there is a throw by the catcher to another base on a steal attempt. Example: Runners on 1st and 3rd. If runner on 1st attempts to steal second and catcher throws down to second, the runner on third may go home on that play. (10U is not permitted to do this. See Rule 9.6 “Home Plate Closed Rule”)
- Our goal is to teach the fundamentals of baseball and try to keep the games moving at a good pace.
- If a thrown pitch results in ball 4 giving a walk to the batter, and the catcher catches the ball cleanly, the runner will need to stop at 1st base if the pitcher possesses the ball. Since the runners are only allowed to steal after the ball crosses the plate or released from the pitcher’s hand (see above), the batter turned runner will not be allowed to continue to 2nd base without waiting for the next pitch. An exception to this rule is if ball 4 occurs on a wild pitch or passed ball. The batter could then gain 2nd base if the catcher has not returned the ball back to the pitcher prior to the batter committing halfway to second base as the wild pitch/passed ball is a live ball. This rule coordinates with rules 9.3 and 9.4 above.
- “Home Plate Closed Rule” for 10U only: 10U may NOT score by stealing home on a passed ball, a wild pitch by the pitcher, or return throw to any position, other than pitcher, on the field from the catcher (steal attempt). Anytime a 10U steals a base, the furthest he can advance is 3rd base on steal attempt/steal play – example: a player stealing 2nd may advance to 3rd on an overthrow, but cannot advance further than 3rd base on such a play.
- The only way 10U can score a run is a bases loaded walk or hit batsmen, or following the action after a hit ball of an offensive player. If the ball is batted in play, 10U can advance as far as they would like per regular baseball rules until the infield/pitcher has complete control of the ball. Example: If a batted ball results in an overthrow of a base, the runner(s) can advance as far as they can, including home, until the umpire deems the pitcher/infield has control of the ball and stops play. Keep in mind that these are teenage umpires, and they could forget to call time. If a coach sees the infield/pitcher has control of the ball, the ask is to not send the runners and allow the players to learn situational baseball.
- “3rd Base Dancing” 12U Only – A runner on 3rd base will not be allowed to try to entice a throw from the catcher or pitcher after the pitch. If the catcher has caught the ball cleanly, the runner must return to 3rd base.
- Any runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make a tag.
- 10U will not have an Infield Fly rule. 12U will still use the Infield Fly rule.
- 10U will not be allowed to throw breaking pitches. If a pitcher is caught throwing a breaking pitch by the UMPIRE, it will be called a ball.
- 10U will not be allowed to intentionally square to bunt a pitch. 12U will be allowed to bunt.
- The MinnDak will follow the SD VFW rule in regards to bats:
* All metal bats must have a USA Baseball stamp.
* Wood bats are also allowed. - 10U cannot be 11 before January 1, 2023
12U cannot be 13 before January 1, 2023 - 10U & 12U will be using the following pitching rules. 10U & 12U teams will be required to use Game Changer to track pitch counts:
- No more than 3 innings per game.
- We will also implement the following pitch counts for required rest:
- 1-35 pitches: No Rest Required
- 36-50 pitches: 1 calendar day rest
- 51-65 pitches: 2 calendar days rest
- 66-75/85 pitches: 3 calendar days rest
- 75 is the daily max limit for 10U
- 85 is the daily max limit for 12U
- No more than 90 pitches in 1 week
EXAMPLE 1: Pitcher throws 50 pitches on Monday and completes 3 innings. They would be done for that game hitting the 3-inning max. Same pitcher would need 1 calendar day rest on Tuesday, and then would be eligible to pitch 40 more pitches in Wednesday’s/Thursday’s game to reach the 90 per week limit.
EXAMPLE 2: Pitcher throws 75/85 on Monday (hitting the daily max based on age) in 3 or less innings, 3 calendar days rest would be required, which would make them eligible to pitch again the following Monday. - When determining the number of calendar days of rest, we will go back to where the pitch count was when the first pitch was thrown to a batter if the pitcher is removed immediately following that at-bat. “Finish at-bat rule”
EXAMPLE: Pitcher starts an at-bat with pitch 48, but batter fouls off pitches and final pitch count at end of at-bat is 55, the pitcher would fall to the 36-50 pitches category in determining required rest as long as they do not throw a pitch to the next batter. Their official pitch count would be 50. This eliminates having to remove pitchers mid at-bat.
- No automatic intentional walks. A batter must receive four pitches to walk.
- All 10U and 12U team members must bat, bat in order and must play a minimum of 2 innings in the field (tournament games included).
NOTE: If a game ends because of run rule or time limit, the innings played rule will not be considered violated. - If a player is injured within the course of the game and cannot take their turn to bat, that player will be skipped in the lineup with NO OUT taken, unless it brings the roster to seven players. An out would then be taken as noted in rule #2. It is understood that if the player is too injured to take their at bat, they are too injured to play the remainder of the game.
- If a player is able and only wants to play defense in the game and not bat, an out will be recorded for that player.
- A player must appear in 7 regular season games to be eligible for the tournament. Appeals can be made for extenuating circumstances. Appeals first need to go to the local town rep. If the town rep is unsure of decision, town rep will discuss with league commissioner. Decisions of the town rep and/or commissioner will be communicated to other town reps/coaches.
- The home team will provide the umpires and the baseballs for the regular season.
- Each game must be recorded in Game Changer. If there is a discrepancy of final score or pitch counts, league commissioner can be contacted. League commissioner will then contact both coaches to settle discrepancy and update if necessary.
- No metal cleats.